Thanks for considering Bordertown for your project!
The following notes include important information, inclusions, limitations and terms that you'll want to read through before hiring us for your renovation or remodel. The items below have been incorporated into your agreement with us by reference through the link in your Estimate package. Please contact your assigned Bordertown Project Manager if you have any questions!
Tile Selection and Installation Pattern
This section is only applicable if tile installation is included in your Scope of Work.
Unless specifically specified othersise in your Estimate, your tiling installation cost was based upon a common (stacked or 1/3 offset) installation of rectified 12x12" or 12x24" porcelain or ceramic tile with standard 1/8" grout width. The installation cost can increase significantly if you select:
Your tile selection may also impact the amount of tile required to cover off breakage and waste (and therefore increase or decrease your tile allowance.)
Finally, please note that some tile may have characteristics that limit certain installations. For example, large formate tile can generally not be installed with a 50% offset (inherent bowing creates lipping,) non-rectified tile will result in additional grout width variation, and many natural stone products do not wear well in wet areas like showers. If you are purchasing your own tile, please confirm your selection with your Project Manager before placing your order!
Once you have your tile selected, we can update your Estimate to include any of these additional costs. We will also then provide you with take-offs: the amount of tile required to complete the project which includes appropriate allowances for waste, breakage, and cut-offs.
Change Orders
During the course of the project you may decide to make changes to materials/installation locations or otherwise add or alter the Scope of Work. These changes should be discussed with your Project Manager as early on in the project as possible. He will discuss the feasibility and any associated costs and will provide a Change Order description and cost for your approval. A Change Order may also be initiated by us if we encounter unforseen circumstances during demolition or construction that must be dealt with in order to complete the agreed Scope of Work. In these cases, you will also be notified of the costs.
In some cases, we may elect to proceed with reasonable Change Order work we initiate if we are unable to obtain immediate approval and if delaying such work would be detrimental to the overall project schedule. In those cases we will provide you with the associated costs as soon as possible.
Contingency
We recommend that you put aside (budget for) an additional 15% of your project's value for changes and unforseen circumstances. Draws from a contingency would only be needed in the following situations:
Allowances
Your Estimate may include "allowances" for certain materials, finishes, subcontractors or aspects of the project with significant unknowns. An "allowance" is an amount set-aside within the Estimate to cover specific costs. It will change depending on actual material, labor and/or subcontractor costs. The actual amount billed on an allowance will be our actual cost plus any delivery charges, time spent sourcing the materials and our standard Project Management Fees and Contractor's Mark-Up.
Client-Supplied Materials
You may decide to source and provide materials with "allowances" to us for installation. In these cases, you will be responsible to ensure size, amount, delivery date and ALL specifications are appropriate. The amount set-aside in the Estimate for material allowances will be removed from your final invoice from us in cases where you have provided the materials. The Scope of Work and/or our Estimate may be adjusted to take into account the labour or basic materials required to install such materials. Note that the Bordertown warrantee does not cover materials that we do not supply. In the event that materials you supply are not suitable for installation, damaged, late to arrive, in insufficient quantity or othewise lead to installation delays, additional fees and project completion delays will apply. A delay fee schedule will be made available upon request. Please be sure to speak with us BEFORE you purchase items to be installed during this project.
Drywall Disposal Policy
Bordertown has strict policies in place regarding the removal and disposal of "old drywall". In short, any existing drywall which we remove during the course of the project will bagged as appropriate for transportation to the Vancouver Landfill and left with you for disposal. Under current regulations we are not permitted to dispose of potentially asbestos-containing materials on your behalf without first initiating a thorough testing and abatement procedure. This expensive and time consuming process is eliminated in some cases with our "owner disposal" policy. For more information, please speak with your Bordertown Project Manager and request a copy of our most recent Asbestos Policy document.
Deposit and Scheduling
Once you have made the decision to have us take on your renovation project, we will request your Project Initiation deposit and ask you to approve your Estimate. We will then confirm your material selections and the general installation tequiniques/locations (adjustments may be made to the Scope and/or Estimate at that time to reflect any changes to material or labor costs.) Once all materials are on-site and ready for installation, you and your Project Manager will determine a start date and estimated timeline for completion. Please note that part of the purpose of the deposit is to ensure that we are able to efficiently schedule both your project and others. It protects us by ensuring that we are able to charge fairly for our committed time and it protects you by securing your position in our project heiarchy. Deposits are therefore non-refundable where a project is cancelled or rescheduled by a client.
Payments
A payment schedule has been included as part of your Estimate package. Many payments are due upon completion of certain project milestones and not specific, pre-determined dates. We will let you know when these milestones are approaching so you can prepare your payments.
Payments for charges associated with any Change Order(s) will be due the day they are submitted to you for approval. The final payment due will be adjusted to take into account actual Allowance related costs and adjustments related to additional fees, credits or approved expenses. Bordertown accepts payment by cheque, cash, e-transfer and Bitcoin (gas and convenience fees will apply for Bitcoin payments.)
Late and Returned Payments
Interest on overdue payments will be payable at a rate of 1.5% per month or portion thereof, compounded monthly. Returned payments (including those marked "non-Sufficient Funds" or cancelled by either the payor or financial institution) will be subject to a fee equal to those charged us by our financial institution plus a processing service fee of $250 and any interest due. Late payments may also result in delays to the project schedule or, in severe situations, project termination.
Health and Safety
In order to help ensure a safe work environment, Bordertown will put into place certain measures that will apply throughout the entirety of the project (including those times when workers are not on site.) These will include restricted access to work and storage areas, mandatory personal protective equipment, various safety procedures and other policies which will impact your ability to use certain areas of your home. Although we will make every attempt to limit your inconvenience while your site is active, our insurance (and warrantee terms) require that our Health and Safety measures are followed at all times.
Dust and Disruption
During the completion of your project, we will take reasonable steps to limit the impact of our work on the rest of your home. You should, however, be prepared for some disruptions related to dust, noise and the use or storage of our tools and equipment.
Please note that working from home, including the use of a home office, may be difficult or impossible during construction. Unfortunately, It is not possible to schedule temporary electrical outages, plumbing shut-ofs or "noise" around other activities taking place in your home without significant additional cost and potential project delays. If you routinely make use of a home office during regular work hours, we recommend planning alternative workspace for the duration of your project. If you are unable to make such arrangements, please speak with your Project Manager so we can work with you to come-up with a solution that works within your requirements and budget.
Site Requirements
In order to ensure a safe and efficient workplace, we will need access to electricity, water, outdoor workspace, secure tool/material storage and bathroom facilities for the duration of the project. If you are unable to provide any of these, please speak with your Project Manger before accepting the Estimate so we can make alternate arrangements (portable toilet rental and generator costs for example) and update the Scope of Work if required.
Signage
We may erect temporary signage on your property that includes our company name, messaging and contact information. Any such signs will be maintained by us in good condition and will be removed promptly upon final payment for the work. We may also post other signs and notices for safety reasons or as required under permit.
Use of Images
Bordertown staff or subcontractors may use phones, cameras or other means to capture digital photographs, video and other media. These images will be limited to the work site (or prospective work site,) may be used for archival or promotional purposes and will not purposely include items that could be used to personally identify you. We will never publish your name or other personal information without your written permission!
Access/Third Party Trades/Other Work
Your Estimate package was put together under the assumption that we will have full and unfettered access to all required areas of the project site during scheduled working hours. If you prefer to restrict working hours outside of those allowed for by local bylaws (typically 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday,) wish to restrict access to certain areas of the premises, have noise restrictions, have pets or young children, require the use of space that is reasonably required for construction activities/storage, or plan to have other work undertaken on the premises concurrently, please let us know so we can adjust the Estimate and schedules accordingly. Actual working hours are typically 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. You will be asked to provide your Project Manager with key(s) and/or passcodes as necessary to access the premises.
Design Services and Consultation
Unless specifically included in our proposed Scope of Work, your Estimate does not include any Design or Consultative Services including drawings/sketches and renderings, material selection, color selection, product research for "allowance" items, shopping or other similar activities. If you do not already have a design or would like assistance with anything related to the layout or design of your space, please speak with your Project Manager. In some cases we can add these services to your Estimate and in others we can assist you in finding a local, reputable designer.
Permits, Inspections, Engineering and Architectural Services
Unless specifically included in our proposed Scope of Work, your Estimate does not include permit application, permit management, architectural, engineering or other professional services. Any such services, whether or not required by code or law for the work to be undertaken under this Estimate, are your sole responsibility. If you would like us to provide and/or manage these services for you, please let your Project Manager know and he can provide you with estimated costs.
Subcontractors
We may bring in one or more partner subcontractors to perform certain work or provide services over the course of your project. Each of these will have been thorougly vetted by your Project Manager and have appropriate (and up to date) expertise, qualifications, and licensing.
Our subcontractors perform work on your project but they do not work for you directly and do not have access to details like your project scope, complete schedule or an understanding of how changes to their work could impact other areas of the project. For this reason - and for reasons of insurance and liability - we ask that you run all your questions or requests relating to our subcontractors through your Bordrertown Project Manager.
Unless specifically noted differently in your Estimate, all anticipated Subcontractor costs will be rough Estimates only. These Estimates will be used to determine your payment schedule and any over or under charges will be reconcilled at the time of your final payment. Your actual cost for our Subcontractors' products and services will be their charges to us plus our Project Management fee. We will provide you with copies of their bills (and payment receipts) upon request.
Options, Other Services, Cost Variance, Validation
Your Estimate may include Options for certain product installations or services. These are not included in your Estimate cost until they have been added to the Scope of Work.
The costs included in your Estimate package are for the materials, products and services described and do not include any other materials, products or services. The pricing is an Estimate only and is subject to change without notice.
We will honour all our Estimates until the expiry date included in the original document. Please note that we reserve the right to alter our pricing at any time after that date to reflect market changes and the most current material/labour/business costs.
Additional Information
These notes include "highlights" of Bordertown's policies, procedures and general information that we feel is important you know prior to making the decision to hire us for your project.
There are several documents that might include information or terms/conditions that apply to your project. The "order of precidence" of those documents is as follows:
Thanks for takaing the time to read though your Project Notes! Your Project Manager is available to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to helping make your space awesome!
The following notes include important information, inclusions, limitations and terms that you'll want to read through before hiring us for your renovation or remodel. The items below have been incorporated into your agreement with us by reference through the link in your Estimate package. Please contact your assigned Bordertown Project Manager if you have any questions!
Tile Selection and Installation Pattern
This section is only applicable if tile installation is included in your Scope of Work.
Unless specifically specified othersise in your Estimate, your tiling installation cost was based upon a common (stacked or 1/3 offset) installation of rectified 12x12" or 12x24" porcelain or ceramic tile with standard 1/8" grout width. The installation cost can increase significantly if you select:
- Large format tile
- Small format tile (including "subway" or mosaic)
- Natural stone tile (including marble, slate and others)
- Non-standard installation patterns (including inlays, herringbone, chevron and others)
- Thinner (or significantly thicker) grout lines
- High-end finishing (including bevels, mitres and others)
Your tile selection may also impact the amount of tile required to cover off breakage and waste (and therefore increase or decrease your tile allowance.)
Finally, please note that some tile may have characteristics that limit certain installations. For example, large formate tile can generally not be installed with a 50% offset (inherent bowing creates lipping,) non-rectified tile will result in additional grout width variation, and many natural stone products do not wear well in wet areas like showers. If you are purchasing your own tile, please confirm your selection with your Project Manager before placing your order!
Once you have your tile selected, we can update your Estimate to include any of these additional costs. We will also then provide you with take-offs: the amount of tile required to complete the project which includes appropriate allowances for waste, breakage, and cut-offs.
Change Orders
During the course of the project you may decide to make changes to materials/installation locations or otherwise add or alter the Scope of Work. These changes should be discussed with your Project Manager as early on in the project as possible. He will discuss the feasibility and any associated costs and will provide a Change Order description and cost for your approval. A Change Order may also be initiated by us if we encounter unforseen circumstances during demolition or construction that must be dealt with in order to complete the agreed Scope of Work. In these cases, you will also be notified of the costs.
In some cases, we may elect to proceed with reasonable Change Order work we initiate if we are unable to obtain immediate approval and if delaying such work would be detrimental to the overall project schedule. In those cases we will provide you with the associated costs as soon as possible.
Contingency
We recommend that you put aside (budget for) an additional 15% of your project's value for changes and unforseen circumstances. Draws from a contingency would only be needed in the following situations:
- We uncover issues during demolition like rot, asbestos, or existing problems with framing, electrical, plumbing or other existing installations that require correction to bring your space up to code.
- There are project delays due to issues with allowance items provided by you for installation. This might include items that arrive damaged, are not the correct specification, are in the incorrect quantity, arrive late or otherwise lead to installation delays.
- You make changes to your project scope. Examples might include adding lighting, changing material selections, altering layouts, changing fixture locations and others.
- Other circumstances not defined in the Scope of Work and not under Bordertown's control that impact schedule.
Allowances
Your Estimate may include "allowances" for certain materials, finishes, subcontractors or aspects of the project with significant unknowns. An "allowance" is an amount set-aside within the Estimate to cover specific costs. It will change depending on actual material, labor and/or subcontractor costs. The actual amount billed on an allowance will be our actual cost plus any delivery charges, time spent sourcing the materials and our standard Project Management Fees and Contractor's Mark-Up.
Client-Supplied Materials
You may decide to source and provide materials with "allowances" to us for installation. In these cases, you will be responsible to ensure size, amount, delivery date and ALL specifications are appropriate. The amount set-aside in the Estimate for material allowances will be removed from your final invoice from us in cases where you have provided the materials. The Scope of Work and/or our Estimate may be adjusted to take into account the labour or basic materials required to install such materials. Note that the Bordertown warrantee does not cover materials that we do not supply. In the event that materials you supply are not suitable for installation, damaged, late to arrive, in insufficient quantity or othewise lead to installation delays, additional fees and project completion delays will apply. A delay fee schedule will be made available upon request. Please be sure to speak with us BEFORE you purchase items to be installed during this project.
Drywall Disposal Policy
Bordertown has strict policies in place regarding the removal and disposal of "old drywall". In short, any existing drywall which we remove during the course of the project will bagged as appropriate for transportation to the Vancouver Landfill and left with you for disposal. Under current regulations we are not permitted to dispose of potentially asbestos-containing materials on your behalf without first initiating a thorough testing and abatement procedure. This expensive and time consuming process is eliminated in some cases with our "owner disposal" policy. For more information, please speak with your Bordertown Project Manager and request a copy of our most recent Asbestos Policy document.
Deposit and Scheduling
Once you have made the decision to have us take on your renovation project, we will request your Project Initiation deposit and ask you to approve your Estimate. We will then confirm your material selections and the general installation tequiniques/locations (adjustments may be made to the Scope and/or Estimate at that time to reflect any changes to material or labor costs.) Once all materials are on-site and ready for installation, you and your Project Manager will determine a start date and estimated timeline for completion. Please note that part of the purpose of the deposit is to ensure that we are able to efficiently schedule both your project and others. It protects us by ensuring that we are able to charge fairly for our committed time and it protects you by securing your position in our project heiarchy. Deposits are therefore non-refundable where a project is cancelled or rescheduled by a client.
Payments
A payment schedule has been included as part of your Estimate package. Many payments are due upon completion of certain project milestones and not specific, pre-determined dates. We will let you know when these milestones are approaching so you can prepare your payments.
Payments for charges associated with any Change Order(s) will be due the day they are submitted to you for approval. The final payment due will be adjusted to take into account actual Allowance related costs and adjustments related to additional fees, credits or approved expenses. Bordertown accepts payment by cheque, cash, e-transfer and Bitcoin (gas and convenience fees will apply for Bitcoin payments.)
Late and Returned Payments
Interest on overdue payments will be payable at a rate of 1.5% per month or portion thereof, compounded monthly. Returned payments (including those marked "non-Sufficient Funds" or cancelled by either the payor or financial institution) will be subject to a fee equal to those charged us by our financial institution plus a processing service fee of $250 and any interest due. Late payments may also result in delays to the project schedule or, in severe situations, project termination.
Health and Safety
In order to help ensure a safe work environment, Bordertown will put into place certain measures that will apply throughout the entirety of the project (including those times when workers are not on site.) These will include restricted access to work and storage areas, mandatory personal protective equipment, various safety procedures and other policies which will impact your ability to use certain areas of your home. Although we will make every attempt to limit your inconvenience while your site is active, our insurance (and warrantee terms) require that our Health and Safety measures are followed at all times.
Dust and Disruption
During the completion of your project, we will take reasonable steps to limit the impact of our work on the rest of your home. You should, however, be prepared for some disruptions related to dust, noise and the use or storage of our tools and equipment.
Please note that working from home, including the use of a home office, may be difficult or impossible during construction. Unfortunately, It is not possible to schedule temporary electrical outages, plumbing shut-ofs or "noise" around other activities taking place in your home without significant additional cost and potential project delays. If you routinely make use of a home office during regular work hours, we recommend planning alternative workspace for the duration of your project. If you are unable to make such arrangements, please speak with your Project Manager so we can work with you to come-up with a solution that works within your requirements and budget.
Site Requirements
In order to ensure a safe and efficient workplace, we will need access to electricity, water, outdoor workspace, secure tool/material storage and bathroom facilities for the duration of the project. If you are unable to provide any of these, please speak with your Project Manger before accepting the Estimate so we can make alternate arrangements (portable toilet rental and generator costs for example) and update the Scope of Work if required.
Signage
We may erect temporary signage on your property that includes our company name, messaging and contact information. Any such signs will be maintained by us in good condition and will be removed promptly upon final payment for the work. We may also post other signs and notices for safety reasons or as required under permit.
Use of Images
Bordertown staff or subcontractors may use phones, cameras or other means to capture digital photographs, video and other media. These images will be limited to the work site (or prospective work site,) may be used for archival or promotional purposes and will not purposely include items that could be used to personally identify you. We will never publish your name or other personal information without your written permission!
Access/Third Party Trades/Other Work
Your Estimate package was put together under the assumption that we will have full and unfettered access to all required areas of the project site during scheduled working hours. If you prefer to restrict working hours outside of those allowed for by local bylaws (typically 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday,) wish to restrict access to certain areas of the premises, have noise restrictions, have pets or young children, require the use of space that is reasonably required for construction activities/storage, or plan to have other work undertaken on the premises concurrently, please let us know so we can adjust the Estimate and schedules accordingly. Actual working hours are typically 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. You will be asked to provide your Project Manager with key(s) and/or passcodes as necessary to access the premises.
Design Services and Consultation
Unless specifically included in our proposed Scope of Work, your Estimate does not include any Design or Consultative Services including drawings/sketches and renderings, material selection, color selection, product research for "allowance" items, shopping or other similar activities. If you do not already have a design or would like assistance with anything related to the layout or design of your space, please speak with your Project Manager. In some cases we can add these services to your Estimate and in others we can assist you in finding a local, reputable designer.
Permits, Inspections, Engineering and Architectural Services
Unless specifically included in our proposed Scope of Work, your Estimate does not include permit application, permit management, architectural, engineering or other professional services. Any such services, whether or not required by code or law for the work to be undertaken under this Estimate, are your sole responsibility. If you would like us to provide and/or manage these services for you, please let your Project Manager know and he can provide you with estimated costs.
Subcontractors
We may bring in one or more partner subcontractors to perform certain work or provide services over the course of your project. Each of these will have been thorougly vetted by your Project Manager and have appropriate (and up to date) expertise, qualifications, and licensing.
Our subcontractors perform work on your project but they do not work for you directly and do not have access to details like your project scope, complete schedule or an understanding of how changes to their work could impact other areas of the project. For this reason - and for reasons of insurance and liability - we ask that you run all your questions or requests relating to our subcontractors through your Bordrertown Project Manager.
Unless specifically noted differently in your Estimate, all anticipated Subcontractor costs will be rough Estimates only. These Estimates will be used to determine your payment schedule and any over or under charges will be reconcilled at the time of your final payment. Your actual cost for our Subcontractors' products and services will be their charges to us plus our Project Management fee. We will provide you with copies of their bills (and payment receipts) upon request.
Options, Other Services, Cost Variance, Validation
Your Estimate may include Options for certain product installations or services. These are not included in your Estimate cost until they have been added to the Scope of Work.
The costs included in your Estimate package are for the materials, products and services described and do not include any other materials, products or services. The pricing is an Estimate only and is subject to change without notice.
We will honour all our Estimates until the expiry date included in the original document. Please note that we reserve the right to alter our pricing at any time after that date to reflect market changes and the most current material/labour/business costs.
Additional Information
These notes include "highlights" of Bordertown's policies, procedures and general information that we feel is important you know prior to making the decision to hire us for your project.
There are several documents that might include information or terms/conditions that apply to your project. The "order of precidence" of those documents is as follows:
- Government Regulatory Documents Referenced by Bordertown
- Bordertown's Construction Services Agreement (or other signed agreement, if applicable)
- Bordertown's Proposal or Estimate Package
- Written Clarification Emails/Communications
- These Notes
Thanks for takaing the time to read though your Project Notes! Your Project Manager is available to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to helping make your space awesome!